Detained journalist Diing Magot released

Diing Magot (C) with fellow journalists after her release from Malakia Police Station on Monday. (Courtesy photo)

The South Sudan Police on Monday released female journalist Diing Magot one week after she was arrested and detained while covering a peaceful protest over the high cost of living at Konyokonyo Market in Juba on 7 August.

The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJoSS), which among other things is responsible for the protection of journalists, confirmed her release.

“Journalist Diing Magot has just been released from Malakia Police Station. UJOSS thanks its president, Oyet Patrick, and the team and South Sudanese journalists including other media stakeholders for the solidarity," UJOSS said.

UJOSS President Oyet Patrick Charles assured journalists in Juba last Thursday that their colleague Diing Magot would be released last Friday however her bail papers were submitted late to the prosecutor and her release was pushed to Monday (today).

At the time of her arrest, she had no work or UJOSS identification card.

According to Oyet, Magot will be regularly summoned by the police until investigations are completed.

“The release of Diing does not mean that she is totally free. She will still be called to the police because investigations are not yet over,” Oyet said.

Asked about the physical health of the journalist, Oyet said she was physically fine at the time of her release but recommended that UJOSS look for means to send her for trauma healing.